Inspection Report
Z's House of Thai
6602 E CAVE CREEK RD CAVE CREEK AZ 85331
FD-64037
Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking
Food Routine Inspection
8/28/2025
Not Participating
2
Completed
Violations
Violation #: 8
Description: Hands Clean and Properly Washed
Comments:
PRIORITY VIOLATION-2-301.14 - Priority: When to Wash. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these simple tools in our Active Managerial Control Toolbox, made especially for you. https://www.maricopa.gov/4573/AMC-Toolbox: Handwashing.
Addl Notes: Observed employees switch between touching the order tablet, scratching their head, grabbing items from the fridge/freezer, and grabbing food out of the prep table to cook all without washing their hands and changing their gloves. Discussed the importance of proper hand washing and when hand washing is required with the person-in-charge (PIC). Hands must be washed at any time contamination occurs and when changing tasks. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
Violation #: 10
Description: Adequate Handwashing Sinks, Properly Supplied and Accessible
Comments:
5-205.11 - Priority Foundation: Using a Handwashing Sink-Operation and Maintenance. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these simple tools in our Active Managerial Control Toolbox, made especially for you. https://www.maricopa.gov/4573/AMC-Toolbox: Handwashing. Addl Notes: Observed handwash sink in the bar had a quart of water in a container inside of the basin and the handwash sink for the kitchen had several towels laying inside of the basin blocking the drain. Facilities must be maintained in a condition that promotes handwashing. PIC relocated all items blocking handwash sink at time of inspection. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
Violation #: 22
Description: Proper Cold Holding Temperatures
Comments:
PRIORITY VIOLATION-3-501.16(A)(2) and (B) - Priority: Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food, Cold Holding. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these simple tools in our Active Managerial Control Toolbox, made especially for you.https://www.maricopa.gov/4576/AMC-Toolbox---Cold-Holding.
Addl Notes: Observed chopped mushrooms, cooked chicken, chopped cabbage, raw shrimp, raw beef, and cut carrots in the prep table with a temperature of 52, 50, 49, 50, 51, and 52°F respectively. Observed raw shrimp and chopped cabbage on the counter with a temperature of 72°F and 74°F, respectively. Except during preparation, cooking, cooling or when time is used as a control all TCS foods must be maintained at 41°F or below. Eggs not treated to destroy Salmonellae can be stored in equipment that maintains an ambient air temperature of 45°F or below. Per PIC, foods in the prep table had only been there for an hour and a half. Foods on the counter had been there for less than a half hour in anticipation of preparation. PIC placed all foods back into the reach-in fridge and on ice to rapidly cool at time of inspection. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
Violation #: 28
Description: Toxic Substances Properly Identified, Stored, and Used; Held for Retail Sale, Properly Stored
Comments:
7-102.11 - Priority Foundation: Common Name-Working Containers Addl Notes: Observed spray bottle of unknown liquid underneath the table with the shrimp preparation. Spray bottles must be labeled with the common name of whatever chemical is inside. PIC got rid of the bottle at time of inspection. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
Violation #: 41
Description: Wiping Cloths; Properly Used and Stored
Comments:
3-304.14 - Core: Wiping Cloths, Use Limitation Addl Notes: Observed wiping cloths in sanitizer buckets behind the bar and in the kitchen with 0ppm quat sanitizer measured by the establishment's test strips. All wet wiping cloths must be stored in sanitizer buckets with approved sanitizer concentrations. Wiping cloths were placed in sanitizer buckets with approved sanitizer concentrations at time of inspection. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
Comments/Details
Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.
"A" for Food Safety
Through our grading system, Maricopa County Environmental Services Department provides at-a-glance indications of how food establishments perform during food safety inspections. This system is designed to grade food establishments in terms of food safety requirements and provide recognition to those who choose to participate.
How does it work?
The issuance of grade cards to food establishments is based on voluntary participation. The person in charge, who is present during the inspection, will be asked whether they would like to participate in the Grading System. This will be decided prior to each inspection. If an establishment does not participate in the Grading System, Not Participating or NP will appear on the inspection report, and the inspection will still occur. If an establishment does participate, a grade of A, B, C, or D will be determined at the conclusion of the inspection using the Grading System chart below. Participating establishments will then be provided with a grade card that can be posted in the establishment. The status of the establishment’s grade will also appear on the Restaurant Ratings page of the department’s website.
How can I determine the grade?
The Grading System chart can be used to determine grades earned for establishments that do not participate. Grades are determined by the number of Priority and Priority Foundation violations received at the time of inspection. Violation types are defined in general terms below.
Definitions
- Priority Violation
- Major violation that directly contributes to increasing the risk of foodborne illness or injury (e.g. Food employees do not properly wash hands when required).
- Priority Foundation Violation
- Minor violation that does not directly contribute to an increased risk of foodborne illness but failure to correct this violation may lead to the occurrence of a priority violation. For example, hand washing soap and paper towels not available at hand wash sink (may lead directly to food employees not properly washing hands when required).
- Core Violation
- Minor violation that relates to general maintenance and sanitation (e.g. No sign reminding employees to wash hands).
- Cutting Edge Program
- All county food-related establishments can partner with Maricopa County to implement a proactive approach to reducing foodborne illness risk factors by implementing food safety systems that include policies, training, and verification processes. Partners enrolled in the Cutting Edge Program receive an A+ when an A is earned.
| Violation Category | Grade A | Grade B | Grade B | Grade B | Grade B | Grade B | Grade B | Grade B | Grade C | Grade C | Grade C | Grade C | Grade C | Grade C | Grade D | Grade D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priority | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | more than 2 | more than 3 |
| Priority Foundation | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | more than 3 | more than 0 |
Any legal action for a pattern of non-compliance or permit suspension results in a D.